Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy then received a Cannes-like, minutes-long standing ovation.

You might expect that, of course. “Despicable Me 2” was largely animated out of Illumination MacGuff, whose headquarters are in Paris. Made up mainly of French animation school students, a considerable part of the audience will know people who worked on “Despicable Me 2.” But such raucous enthusiasm is still rare at Annecy, even from its toon fanboy hardcores.

And first reactions matter as Universal has so much riding on “Despicable Me 2,” not only in worldwide box office but huge M & L potential.

Among best loved moment for the Annecy crowd at least were two Minions song renditions. The Minions seem to have gained as well in occasionally intelligible vocab. Food- helado, tikki masala – seems much on a Minion’s mind.

“If you listen carefully, there’s a lot of food mentioned from different culture,” by the Minions, Renaud advised Variety.

To say more would be spoiling. “Despicable Me 2” opens July 3 in the U.S.